My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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"Then I'll run away first. Now I know that you'll understand if you're given some time."

"...I...I did that kind of thing..."

"It's good that you know you were wrong and you've corrected it. I made a mistake too. Back in junior high... all I knew was how to reject you. Everyone makes mistakes, but repeating the same mistake is the worst thing you can do."

That's why I had to confront the issue when you dragged Irito and the others into this mess last year and they started acting out of control.

But what if you regret it...

As long as you are willing to reflect on your actions...

"I accept all your mistakes, including yours. I will help you correct them all. Because we grew up together—we're childhood sweethearts."

Xiaoyue grabbed my shirt and quietly cried.

I kept my hand on her thin back until her body was completely cold and the flames of the Great Character went out.

Volume Twelve: There is Only One Man - Final Chapter: The Gate to the World

Irito Mizuto◆ Flash

"—Then, since it happened to be the Obon festival and my parents were home, I casually mentioned that I'd started dating Xiaoyue from next door. And do you know what they said?"

"...'You're only starting to date now?'"

"That's incredibly accurate!"

As I walked along the trail, I listened to Kawabata's updates on my phone.

Although the Five Mountains Fire Offering brought the Obon festival to a close, summer wasn't over yet. As I frowned, basking in the sun, I said to my friend:

"Even if you went to tell your classmates, you'd probably get the same reaction. Besides, haven't you stopped hiding the fact that you've known each other since childhood?"

"Just because a boy and a girl are close together, they're easily mistaken for a couple? Have modern people lost their minds?"

"Here's the most powerful phrase for you: 'How dare you say that?' You call yourself a dating ROM specialist."

I've had the same feelings about you countless times.

"Yeah, we need to change that self-designation too."

"You've always been a voyeur, haven't you?"

"Oh, Irito, do you know the origin of ROMs?"

"It's an abbreviation for 'Read Only Member.' You're the one who told me that."

That's correct, but some people say it's taken from the ROM of a CD-ROM. (Read-only memory.)

CD—it's a CD for listening to music or something. Very few people use it nowadays.

Then, ROM has an antonym called RAM. RAM stands for Random-access memory, meaning memory that is both readable and writable.

"……so what?"

From now on, please call me RAM.

"I'm going to hang up."

"At least give me a rant!"

I can date myself, and I also watch others date—there's no need to give me a special nickname.

He's just an ordinary person you could see anywhere.

...Will what I'm saying offend certain groups? Since I started managing Isana's social media accounts, I've also become more sensitive to the words I use.

"We've gotten off-topic. Anyway, the problem is solved, and I have to thank you."

"Thank you? For what?"

"You helped me solve the mystery, and now you're coming to Osaka to find me again? Don't hesitate to ask me for help next time you encounter difficulties. Don't let my appearance fool you; I have a wide network of connections."

Ok……

I currently lack connections, so it would be good to find someone to fill that gap.

"Okay, from now on you'll be my source of intelligence."

"Oh, that's cool! Sounds way cooler than RAM. From now on, I'll call myself a romance intelligence strategist."

"You can't sell this. Isn't your selling point simply being a quiet spectator?"

That being said, he never remained a quiet bystander—

Just then, I heard someone calling out from afar, "Little one—?"

"Oh, sorry, she's calling me. Actually, we're getting ready to go out in a bit..."

"Dating?"

"Ah—um—...I guess so."

After a slight hesitation, Kawanami Kogure answered, then continued somewhat shyly:

"After all, we're more than just childhood sweethearts anymore."

We said goodbye briefly and ended the call.

It seems this was really just them showing off their affection.

I put away my phone and looked up at my destination, which was right in front of me.

That is, the apartment where Izana lives.

Because I started dating Yui, I haven't been coming here much lately, but I have to meet her today no matter what.

Regarding the music video illustration requests received by Isana's account during the Obon festival—

I'm here today to hear her answer.

Irito Mizuto ◆ Watershed

I entered the Dongtou family's house with familiarity and gently knocked on Izana's door.

"I am coming."

A lazy "Hey~" came from inside the room. Hearing this response, I turned the doorknob.

Izana was lying on the bed, playing a game on her phone. She was wearing a tank top and loose shorts, dressed as casually as ever. Occasionally, she would swing her feet on the sheets.

I took a breath of fresh air as the air conditioner blew in, and closed the door at the same time.

Izana said without even turning her head:

"Please wait a moment, I'm almost done with the daily dungeon run—"

"...Are they gathering information?"

"Yes, of course. I analyze the latest illustrations in the industry as motivation for my growth, need I say more?"

Since she started creating illustrations, Isana has used almost everything as an excuse to gather information. It seems she's become more self-indulgent and hedonistic than before. However, if it's just a hobby of otaku interests, then it's not so bad; it does have some reference value.

Once the sweat from my walk outside had completely dried, Isana put her phone on the pillow and sat up with a "whoosh." She sat cross-legged on the bed, turning towards me who was sitting on the cushion.

(Illustration 014)

"Sorry to keep you waiting, classmate."

"You're really taking it easy. Let me make this clear: the decision you make today might change your life."

I have investigated the background of the VTuber who filed the case against Isana.

The result was no problem; in fact, they could be considered excellent customers.

Then it depends on whether Isana herself is willing.

In other words, does she intend to make money from painting?

"Hmm—"

Isana tilted her body slightly to the left and said:

"To be honest, I'm a bit out of the loop. Or rather, it doesn't feel real... about how I get paid to draw... like the quotes and payment requests, Mizuto-kun handles all the complicated parts for me, right?"

"If you know how to do it, I hope you can handle it yourself. For the sake of the future, you'd better learn this little thing first."

"I can't do it, I can't, I don't know how."

Isana shook her head frantically. I thought so too.

"So I think you don't need to overthink it. Just ask yourself if you want to try taking on these cases."

"...What is the conclusion?"

I want to give it a try.

Isana said this with a shy "hehe".

"Because I've always only been able to visualize my own preferences, I'm a little curious about what it would feel like to turn someone else's ideals into reality."

"...Alright, let's continue talking to them."

"Please—"

Isana's tone remained completely relaxed, as if she had never considered what kind of future this decision would lead her to.

But I can vaguely imagine it.

This case will open a door for her.

For the girl, Higashizumi Isana, let's open the door between her and the world—

I took out my phone and logged into Isana's social media account.

—Can we find another person like that?

A high school student who has over 50,000 followers in less than a year?

Irito Yui ◆ Options

"Good morning."

I opened the door to the student council office, and the president of the student council, Hongling, who was there first, greeted me with a smile.

Good morning, Jie. Did you have a good time during the Obon festival?

"Yeah, I'm really happy... You look completely refreshed, President."

"Hehehe."

"........."

I always felt that the president's complexion seemed rosier and more radiant than usual.

As for the student council accountant and president's boyfriend, senior student Haba Takeji, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but he seems to have become a little thinner.

The two of them have been in this state occasionally since they started dating on White Valentine's Day this year. Actually, both Asahi and I are not entirely unaware of the situation, but we deliberately avoid mentioning it. Only Asuha-in seems to have noticed nothing at all.

Speaking of Asuhain-san, as soon as she saw me arrive, she immediately ran towards me like a company employee seeing their boss.

"Irito-san, it's been a long time."

"Hmm, it's been a long time... hasn't it? It feels like we just met in early August?"

"I've read a lot of interesting books these past two weeks. I'll recommend some to you later."

"Uh, okay. Thank you..."

This feeling of being approached so forcefully reminded me of when I first met Xiaoyue...

But I was very happy that she started reading because of my influence. Before, I could only talk to Shuidou or occasionally chat with Dongtou about reading.

"Do you guys even have time to read books?"

Senior student Aisa Aisha deliberately spoke in a frightening manner while secretly grinning at us two second-year juniors.

"The cultural festival preparations are about to begin, are you two mentally prepared yet?!"

Cultural Festival.

Yes, this period has come again.

Traditionally, the cultural festival is organized by second-year students in the student council. Third-year students take a backseat, acting as helpers to their juniors.

It is essentially a handover ceremony.

The third-year students will officially retire after the student council elections in October, at which time we will take over the student council...